Cultural Appropriation To Holy Offense And More: Here Are The Most Controversial Met Gala Themes

The MET Gala is one of the biggest international events that has garnered a lot of attention and scrutiny from the public. Costumes, make-up, photos, poses, guest list, etc everything is analysed and criticised. With various celebrities of the world mingling together, the gala also has been a hot spot for many controversies. However, there have been certain years when the event created controversy, even before it took place, especially when a theme was announced that people deemed inappropriate. 

The theme for each year is decided by the leading chairperson of the MET committee. Though most fashion enthusiasts appreciate the creativity of the themes and the potential costumes that could be worn, sometimes the themes become a hit, and sometimes it becomes a miss. Sometimes, they also stir an uproar on social media. So here are the most controversial themes of the MET Gala. 

Met Theme 'China: Through the Looking Glass' was accused of cultural appropriation 

Cultural appropriation has emerged as an issue in the fashion world. Many top designers and brands have been accused of taking a community's cultural clothing, customs or practices and using them without credit or any kind of acknowledgement. The MET Gala 2015 also received serious allegations of cultural appropriation with its theme 'China: Through the Looking Glass'. It was also accused of promoting 'Orientalism', which presents Asian culture from a stereotypical and Western perspective. 

Most people were of the opinion that rather than showcasing a rich heritage and understanding of Asian culture, the theme reinforced stereotypical images. Critics also were of the opinion that it lacked an understanding of the culture and proper representation. An elaborate headpiece worn by actress, Sarah Jessica Parker made the theme especially controversial. Netizens said that the headpiece was a symbol of the 'Dragon Lady' stereotype, which often shows Asian women as cunning, sensual and deceitful in many Hollywood movies. 

MET Theme 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and Catholic Imagination' was called disrespectful 

The theme of MET Gala 2018 was 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and Catholic Imagination', which explored the relationship between religion and art. Especially the usage of sacred images in fashion. But a lot of people found the theme and the dress code very disrespectful of Catholicism. Celebrities were seen dressed in glamourised choir dresses and cassocks, generally worn by priests and the Pope. Many of the costumes also featured the cross and other Christian symbols. 

Even though the Vatican had endorsed the event and a cardinal had also attended it, many still felt the use of religious symbols as costume was blasphemous. Rihanna's outfit, which consisted of a papal mitre, gained a lot of controversy. A papal mitre is a headgear worn by the bishop. Hence, the singer's glamorous dress with the headgear created quite a stir against the theme. 

MET Theme 'Camp: Notes on Fashion' was criticised for being too vague

The theme for the MET Gala 2019 has been considered one of the worst themes. Moreover, this year saw many of the worst-dressed celebrities' costumes in the history of the charity ball. Netizens have claimed that the outfits worn this year were the tackiest, and there was no apparent theme visible. The dress code was 'Camp: Notes on Fashion', which involved the use of camp elements in fashion. The issue with this was that there was no clear definition of camp. This created a lot of confusion and unimpressive outfits. 

'Camp: Notes on Fashion' was an essay that talked about dressing ugly in an ironic way to mock the standards of fashion and attractiveness set by society. However, this definition was vague as well, since some considered camp to include elements of humour and exaggeration in fashion. Hence, the MET Gala 2019 has remained an unmemorable event, except for the confusing costumes worn by the attendees. 

MET Theme 'Karl Lagerfeld: A line of beauty' faced backlash due to Lagerfeld's personal history 

The MET Gala 2023 was a tribute to the popular fashion designer of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away in 2019. Instead of a concept, the theme was centred around an individual and his contribution to fashion. However, the theme caused an uproar among people due to Lagerfeld's personal history of saying offensive things on sensitive topics like harassment, the MeToo movement and body image. The designer had publicly commented on the looks of female celebrities like the British singer, Adele. He had also made hateful comments against a religious minority in his home country, Germany. 

Karl Lagerfeld also made shocking statements against the MeToo movement. Moreover, he criticised new rules that were put in place by model agencies to protect young models too. Hence, the theme of the MET Gala paying homage to Lagerfeld was heavily critiqued, given the designer's controversies. 

'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion' started the Blockout 2024 trend 

The MET Gala's theme, 'Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion', incorporated elements of nature into the design, with many celebrities wearing floral-inspired costumes. Instead of writing opinions on fashion, a columnist from USA Today made a comparison between the MET Gala and The Hunger Games film. The journalist wrote about how in The Hunger Games movies, the Capitol and its people rejoice in luxury, having fashion shows and parties. Meanwhile, those in the other districts suffer extreme poverty and war. She compared this with the conflicts, loss of lives, homelessness, and inflation in the world, especially in the U.S.A while the MET Gala went on. Curiously, due to the theme of the MET Gala 2024, the costumes worn by the attendees looked very similar to the ones worn in The Hunger Games. 

This comparison prompted the Blockout 2024. Many social media users blocked celebrities who had not spoken up against serious issues like war and loss of lives taking place around that time. Many of the MET Gala attendees were targeted and mass-blocked by netizens. Many critiqued the MET Gala as well, for being hosted during crucial and hard times. 

What are your thoughts on the controversial themes of the MET Gala? Let us know. 

Also Read: Iconic MET Gala Selfies Of All Time, Despite The No Phones Rule

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